Adjustable dress-form.



J. KERSEN. ADJUSTABLE DRESS FORM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.7. i917l` 1. KERSTEN. ADJUSTABLE DRESS FORM.

MPLlCkTION FILED AUGJ. 1917.

1' Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ffm/He s.

JACOB Knasrnn, or GRAND nArIns, MICHIGAN.

ADJUSTABLE nREss-IeoRI/I.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

Application led August 7, 1917. Serial No. 184,816,

'To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JACOB KERSTEN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grand Rapids, in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Dress-Forms; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to an adjustable dress form. Itis a primary object and purpose of the present invention to construct a dress form of a plurality of sections, connecting them with adjacent sections in such manner that each section may be readily adjusted with respect to said adjacent sections, and to support the dress form as a whole on a vertical standard coupled with which is an upper extension rod loosely mounted on and universally adjustable with respect to the relatively stationary standard, whereby in conjunction with the adjustment of the sections with respect to each other, the form may be made to take a variety of positions and shapes not possible with dress'forms heretofore used. A. further object of the invention consists in the provision-of an eX- tensiony rod to the supporting standard which is not only universally adjustable angularly, but which also has a limited vertical adjustment with respect thereto, this giving the form further and easier range of adjustment. A. stillk further feature of the invention consists in novel means for yieldingly mounting the dress form as awhole upon its supporting standard, whereby the form has a large range of adjustment in the length thereof, yet at the same time, is yieldingly held vagainst too free or aimless movement of the form with respect to the supporting standard. Many other features of novelty and utility will appear as understanding of they invention is `had from a consideration of a preferred formthereof shown in the accompanying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 is a vertical section through a dress form embodying my invention and showing the form sections in normal; position. Y

Fig. 2 is a similar sectional view showing the form adjusted to a different position from that shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the upper end of the supporting standard and illustrating the universal adjustable and vertical connection of the eX- tension rod thereto.

Fig. t is a front elevation of the form, with parts broken away, illustrating a still further capability of adjustment of. the

form.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view enlarged, showing the speciiic means of adjustable connection between adjacent sections of the form, and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 showing an additional capability of adjustment of the form due to my invention.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the several views of the drawings.

In construction, a base 1 is provided projecting upwardly from which is a rod 2 telescoping into the lower end of a hollow tubular standard 3.- A collar 4 is secured to the lower end of the standard 3 serving as a support for the lower end of a coil Aspring 5, against the upper end of which a spider 6, having a plurality of radially projecting slotted arms 7, bears. ToV each arm 7 a base section 8 of the form is adjustably connected by bolt and wing nut construction, as indicated atv9, all of which being well known in the dress form art, is not shown `and described in any measure in detail. It is also understood that the standard 3 may bev vertically adjustable on the rod 2 andmay be held in any position to which it may be adjusted, this however,forming no part of the present invention and not being shown or described.

The form is comprised of a plurality of sections 10. In practice, the form isdivided substantially horizontal at the hip and-bust portions thereof, whereby, upper, lower, and intermediate groups of sections are4 provided, these being connected by adjustable connecting devices which permit vertical adjustment of the sections of any group with respect to the sections of the adjacent group, while the sections of a group are similarly connected together by adjustable connecting devices which permit a horizontal adjustment of said sections of a group with respect to the adjacent sections of the same group. This adjustable connecting means comprises an elongated strip of sheetmetal 11, rigidly secured at one end to a section, and then bent, as indicated at 12, so that the'strip of metal is spaced a slight distance from the adjacent section overk which it extends. Strip 11 has an elongatedslot 18 cut therein and on the section over which it extends, a plate 14 is permanently secured transversely of said strip 11. A threaded bolt or stud 15 projects from between the ends of `theplate `14 through the slot 13. A washer 16 is placed over therbolt upon which a short coil spring 17 ris located', and then ,a

10 combinedv housing cap and wing nut is threadedlonto'the end` of the bolt; The housing cap and wing nut is formed'ffrom 18, into which an end of the spring17 enters,

1'5v terminate in ears 2O bent at right angles to the plane 'of the yarms 19. The metalfat they y, middle of the dome is cut away to pass the" if, bolt i and',` is'y threaded4 to receive ythe same', f2@ Y. i" "a yielding adjustableconnection'ofthe secf tions to each other is provided,"and"one in concealed, whilfejfwith l'suchf construction thev adjustmentand proper tensi'onaot the spring i is'veryleasily secured, the lower edges of the dome 18 andthe distance thereof from the """plate""11, serving 'as a gage" which one familiar` with 'assembling ydevices 'of this `r340.character ,may vfollow to determine the i y proper position ofthe combined housing and wing nut 'on the" threaded stud.

" The standard 3 xt'en'dsV slightly above the i' ,intermediategroup' of sections of the iiorm,A In"` its upperend a vhollow sleeve `21gis inserted,l it 'being provided atj its Fupper end P 'With ahead .22'WhCh fimesagarlstthe uP,-

ls'ecured in plaise BY e"b01t23 passing 'through ...40

i 'Y ,bei torivet over theend'of the bolt 23 in`stead ,jof using ajremovable nut." An

" "rod" 'passing upwardly *through 'ther upper end of thesleeve, the ears ormin'g'a stop @prevee disengagementtherefrom It S apparentwarhead `meer.more.namur1 afin Vsleeve between the upper yendl fth'ereof ff and' the boltQQS, having/ such rangel of vertical adjustment.v The upperend of the rod A "24ist`hreaded and receives levier adiupper ,Y j, v'nuts-26 and27,betweenwhich'slotted plates 51.5; A

'; .1'1' 1` 'peniche af' the upper ,Sections V1,0.-4 By tightening the upper nut 27, the plates 28 tantijally 'normal fconfiguration;` In

finis@ f "is tl "indi 4,teabnormallylarge:bust,

'and two oppositely extending arms 1'9vwhich itheingapparent that with'this lconstruction 'sible to conform the same to any an both thejsta'ndard sleeve" adjacent the.v *flower eiid Of thesleeve ,1.11 practice lamer 28; are `-located, these connecting to the upper j lmay beheldagainst movement as is obvious. y fWith,afconstructionof thefcharacter oleshed'.tecnicalia@adjuemenndesireep freegames-be had. In Fig-1efshowt*Y 'xt ersion'irod the icorm"y may be adjusted" justment of the lower sections of the form for an enlargement of the hip portions thereof. In Fig. 4 there is indicated an adjustment for one side of the hip portion of the form to indicate an enlargement thereof, while in Fig. 6 there 1s indicated an abnorr i mally high shoulder. It will also be obvious sheet metal and includes a domelike housing`v ;tainedby'merel'y compressing the spring 5, "and at 'all Vtimes this springv serves to support and hold'the form in upperfposition on the standard and yieldingly 'resists' too free Y ,o y o v y jmovement thereoffaroundthe standard. In

" fwlniichv thespijmglis substantially housed and fact, with my construction'an absolutely L complete and universal' adjustability of the form is attained, making it practically posd all deformities of the human gure. While I "have'not shown in the drawings, the rod 24 tilted forward or opposite to the position which, is shown inV Fig. 2, nevertheless, it is obvious that this can be done, and the form made to simulate a figure having a flat chest. The extension rod 24 is universally 4adjustable to any angle with respect to the .standard and'in conjunction with the adljustment ofthe sections with respect to each y; l x v o o jother,practically"any and all shapes of per endfof'thest'andard Thesle'eve isV aipluralityof independently adjustable form Y sections,v of'aY verticalsupporting standard extending through the form to a'point below Vthe upper'en'ds of the uppermost of said sections, anj'extension rod loosely inserted into the upper end off said standard, and universally angularly adjustable about the axis of said' standard and also adjustablel lengthwise thereof, vmeans limiting the range of longitudinal adjustmentk of said rod in the standard, and means connecting said rod ad- -jacent its Yupper end tothe upper parts of 'said uppermost sections.

' 2;v In adressform, the combinationywith `a plurality ofr independently adj ustable'yform sections, of a, vertical supporting 'standard extending through the form to a pointj below the upper'ends of the uppermost of said sections'Lanj extension rod loosely inserted into 'the'upper end of said standard, al stop located below the upper end of and' within the v y y y y, ystandardto limit they entranceofsaid rod treason of the .diuetafblity'of the;

into the standard?, meanspreventing "discon- `neet-ion"oftherod4v from the standard' and f providing a socket for the end 'of the rod permitting universal angular adjustment of the rod about the axis of the standard, and means connecting said rod adjacent its upper end to the upper parts of said uppermost sections.

3. In a dress form, the combination with a plurality of independently adjustable form sections, of a vertical tubular supporting standard extending through the form to a point below the upper ends of the uppermost of said sections, a sleeve having an enlarged head inserted into the upper end of the standard, said head having an opening therethrough, a bolt passed through the standard and sleeve a distance below the upper end of the standard, a rod extendinoloosely through the opening in said head a ove said sleeve, said rod at its lower end being formed with means preventing disengagement thereof from the sleeve and allowing universal angular adjustment of the rod about the axis o t-he standard, and means connecting said rod adjacent its upper end to the upper portions of said uppermost sections.

4. In a dress form, the combination with a plurality of independently adjustable dress form sections, of a vertical supporting standard extending through the form to a point below the upper ends of the uppermost of said sections, a rod loosely connected at its lower end to and at the upper end of t-he standard and mounted for universal adjustment about the axis of the standard, means connecting said rod adjacent its upper end to the upper portions of said uppermost sections, a. base mounted looselyT around said standard and connected to the lowermost sections of the form, and yielding means on the standard on which the base rests, substantially as described.

5. In a dress form, the combination with a plurality of independently adjustable form sections, of a vertical support extending through the form, a universal joint in said support at a point below the upper ends of the uppermost of said sections, whereby the upper part of said support is universally angularly adjustable about the vertical axis of the lower ypart of said support, and means connecting the upper end of the support with the uppermost sections.

6. In a dress form, the combination with a plurality of independently adjustable form sections, a vertical support extending through the standard and connected at its upper end to the uppermost of said sections, said support comprising an upper section adjustable longitudinally with respect to a lower relatively xed section, and a universal joint in said support whereby said upper section and attached form sections are universally angularly adjustable about the vertical axis of the lower section.

7. In a dress `form, the combination with a plurality of sections, of slot-ted metal strips secured to certain sections and extending over adjacent sections, a flat metal bar secured to each of said adjacent sections at each end thereof and located under and transversely of the length of said slotted strips, a screw secured to each of said bars Vbetween the ends thereof and between the connections ci said bars to the sections, said. screw extending through the slot of the adjacent strip, and means threaded onto the screw for binding the Vstrip against the bar, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JACOB KERSTEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatents.

` Washington, D. C. 

